By Surella Shamon
Donovan Woods
House of Blues, San Diego
Donovan Woods opened the evening with a charming and personable set, balancing heartfelt songwriting with a steady stream of humor and stories between songs that kept the crowd laughing and captivated. Donovan made the performance feel especially intimate with standout performances of multi-million streamed favorites “It’ll Work Itself Out,” “Portland, Maine,” and “Seeing Other People.” Blending thoughtful lyrics with mellow acoustic arrangements, Woods created a relaxed, yet emotionally evocative atmosphere that perfectly set the tone for the rest of the show.